Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Going Green

I'm a big fan of the "Green Movement" that is sweeping the country. I really like that people are being more environmentally conscious and thinking about the impact they personally have on the Earth. I love that there are companies out there like Seventh Generation who are making concious effort to create products that are safe for both people and for the planet. That being said, I've never used anything these guys make, primarily because I bought cleaning supplies in bulk at Sam's Club 3 years ago and still haven't managed to go through all of them, and while I love being environmentally conscious, I also don't want to waste stuff by tossing it in the trash when it's still perfectly good. So, I'll probably look into buying some Seventh Generation stuff when my supplies run out because I like their philosophy (and if anyone has used any of their stuff, please tell me how well it works!). Jason and I aren't exactly hippies about our environmental activism. We aren't the "shower once a week, eat only what you can grow" type, but we do what we can. We use energy efficient light bulbs, we recycle, we have energy star appliances, we carpool to work and school whenever possible. We would compost our waste, but we're not really in a situation where we can do that at the moment. We would also grow veggies in the back yard over the summer if we had the ability to do that. Those are goals for when we live in our own house...some day. But, my point is that we try. No, neither of us has gone to buying all organic and earth friendly products, because some don't work as well as the ones that ruin the earth and that's sad but true. We also haven't gone to mowing the lawn with one of those motorless push mowers.

My point in all of this, is that I get so annoyed by the people who have suddenly started using their "going green" as a status symbol. Like, "I'm so much greener than you!" as if we're in some sort of competition. I thought we were all in this for the greater good, to help clean up the messes we've made in the past, not to compete for who can be "greener" than their friends. I think that's really just missing the point. Ok, so I don't use recycled toilet paper, because it's one-ply which means you're just going to use more of it in the long run anyway, so that's not helping much, but you do so that makes you somehow more elevated in conservation status? Why do people even care about this? Isn't it enough to just do your part and improve what you can in whatever ways possible? Maybe everyone isn't able to afford eco-friendly household products or organic produce, because unfortunately those things are still at a premium price, but they change out all of their light bulbs and carpool. Isn't that something to be commended? I think it's about helping where you can.

Oh, and someone recently pointed out that they order most of their eco-friendly products from Amazon.com, and that left me scratching my head. These products are shipped to grocery stores and drug stores all over the country in large quantities, which means that by shipping in bulk, he carbon footprint of the shipping is reduced. Then you can take your small, hopefully, fuel efficient car to the store and pick up the eco-friendly products. But, instead, for the sake of convenience, fleets of these guys...

...are going out to your house, each one using up a ton of fuel to bring your small packages to you and leave them on your doorstep so you don't have to be bothered to go out anywhere? That seems more damaging than not using the recycled toilet paper the truck is bringing to your house.